European Guesthouse

Clean with good facilities

What we say:

Tucked away in a quiet sidestreet off popular Wat Bo Road, European Guesthouse offers more than just $5-a-night beds in air-con dorms, and private ensuite twins from just $16: its very own urban beach, a spacious chill-out area, relaxing hammocks in a shady garden, and prime views of the neighbourhood crocodile farm all help to make it much more than just another budget option for travellers to Siem Reap.

The only beach in Siem Reap?

The European has already built up a great reputation on the backpacker circuit, but recent staff changes – a new British on-site manager and a Spanish gardener have joined the existing team – have heralded positive changes with a schedule of improvements planned. But for those who knew and loved the “old” European Guest House, panic not, it looks set to lose none of the warm, friendly and relaxing vibe that has already made it so popular.

The European’s 13 ensuite twin/double rooms, along with two ensuite dorms sleeping five and six – all with fans and air-con — are in a large and airy traditional two-storey Khmer house. Rooms are a good size, if a little basic, but are cleaned daily, have 90-channel cable TV, free WiFi, and wet-room style shower rooms with Western toilets. In addition to the well-furnished shady gardens and new beach area there is also a large bougainvillea-covered balcony on the first floor – the perfect spot for a quiet sundowner.

Put a few drinks on that table and now we’re talking.

There is also an unfurnished rear balcony that overlooks a neighbouring crocodile farm – enjoy the views from here if you don’t want to pay the entry fee into the official tourists’ farm on the road to Tonle Sap Lake. It’s not a pretty sight, however, and soon it will be hidden from view when a two-bedroom extension is built onto the balcony. For now, it’s worth knowing that it would be virtually impossible for even the most drunken of tourists to topple over the balcony and fall in, unless they happen to be a champion pole-vaulter.

The neighbours can be a little snappy at times.

A breakfast of fresh baguettes with jam, fresh tropical fruits and tea or coffee is included in the rate for the private rooms, and eggs and bacon can be purchased for an additional $2 per person. There is currently no regular lunch or dinner service but a local pizzeria delivers for free with a range of pizzas from $3 up and a small selection of traditional Khmer dishes from $1.50 for fresh or fried spring rolls to $3.50 for a prawn tom yam soup with rice. A full, all-day restaurant service is imminent and should feature Western crowd-pleasers including pastas, salads, fresh fruit juices and smoothies.

If you don’t want to eat at the guesthouse, or fancy some local fare, the location near Wat Bo Road is perfect for a good selection of restaurants and bars. Pub Street and the Old Market area with their huge range of restaurants are just a 10 to 15-minute walk away. If you don’t fancy walking there is a trusted fleet of about 15 tuk tuk drivers who will take you into town for around $2. They will also take you on a full day tour of the temples of Angkor for $15 for up to four people.

Sunday is the guesthouse’s designated weekly chillout day with all day happy hour — beers reduced from $1 to $0.75 and cocktails down from $3.50 to $2. Curry specials, hog roasts and relaxing live music are among other attractions that regularly draw a sociable crowd into The European’s garden.

Rooms are basic, but clean, with free air-con and WiFi.

As well as making sure that guests have the best stay possible, the European Guesthouse is committed to social responsibility and actively supports a local NGO – Build Your Future Today. There are regular fund-raising events so you can do your bit to give back to the local community without compromising on the quality of your kick-back and hang-loose time.

Kick back, hang loose, chill out.

If you book in advance, free pick-up from the airport, bus station or ferry landing on the Tonle Sap if you are coming by boat from Phnom Penh or Battambang is included in your room rate. And when it comes time to leave, there is a handy luggage store and communal shower rooms you can use if you have a long wait between check-out time and the departure of your night bus — go on, have a final night out and still be fresh and fragrant, all the way to your next destination.

Last reviewed by: Simon Hare
Simon is fluent in English, Spanish and French, but to date he has only mastered a few carefully chosen words of Khmer, like "Food" and "Beer" and "Fat".

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Read European Guesthouse reviews

Rated 4 out of 5

Based on 12 ratings and 12 reviews

great stay

I had a great stay at the European guesthouse, the staff is amazingly friendly and there is a great hang out place. Rooms are big and clean. The place is a little bit outside the city's central place but still walkable.

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European Guesthouse reviewed by hdelcour (Total published reviews: 15) on 25th February, 2010
Rated 4 out of 5. after a stay here in 10/2009

Norwegian Management - a place with a big heart!

A GREAT place to stay! The staff are very friendly and very helpful! The bar, and the nice garden with the great bamboo chairs and hammocks are great places to relax after a long day at the temples. You can order food anytime, and it is great!

The norwegian manager, Siri, always makes sure the athmosphere in the guesthouse is great all the time. She has been living in Asia for many years, and is more than willing to tell you all about what is worth knowing and doing while staying in Siem Reap. Just ask her anything about the country (and the countries around), and she ll tell you all need to know.

This guesthouse has a big heart! European has a great focus on Responsible Tourism! They always make sure to suggest places to visit that makes a difference for the local community, like the Angkor Hospital for children, Orphan centers and restaurants that focus on helping the locals getting a better life.

The bar in this place is often visited by other expaths, so if you like to talk with experienced people, if you like a party, if you like to travel in a way that makes life better for the local people, this is the place to stay in Siem Reap!

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European Guesthouse reviewed by katrinesol30 (Total published reviews: 1) on 24th February, 2010
Rated 5 out of 5. after a stay here in 10/2009

best choice,

I came to Cambodia in the end of september, and new that i will stay at european questhouse for the next 3 months, the thing what i didn't know was that, it's not only offering perfect accomondation, delicous food and a really cosy attomsphere all aroud the place, also it has realy friendly stuff and people there you cant imagne, i feelt after some days like in a new big family,
I just say: i relly did hard to leave european after a relly amazing time I could spend there,...

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European Guesthouse reviewed by floid7 (Total published reviews: 1) on 23rd February, 2010
Rated 5 out of 5. after a stay here in 10/2009

A guest house that embodies Cambodia's color, charm and pulse

I'll admit it: when I planned my Chinese New Year trip to Southeast Asia, I only intended on coming to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, snap a few pictures and leave. Friends of mine who had visited complained about the nonexistent infrastructure, the dishonesty, the poor cleanliness and a lack of non-Wat things to do.

After just three days in Siem Reap, I'm absolutely in love with the city, to the point of considering moving here. Likewise, I'm over the moon about European Guest House, whose personable staff, large, cool rooms and laidback garden atmosphere have enhanced and colored the portions of my stay off of Pub St and the temples.

I really can't recommend this place enough. I stay at a four star hotel in Bangkok and have stayed at five stars in India and China. While other places might be able to boast more ornate furnishings, there is no substitute for amazing service, attention to detail and quality.

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European Guesthouse reviewed by leaveyourdailyhell (Total published reviews: 1) on 21st February, 2010
Rated 5 out of 5. after a stay here in 2/2010

Very European

We had a nice big room overlooking the crocodile farm next door.
Very friendly atmosphere and good coffee.
The prices seem to have shot up since the travelfish review as we paid $12 for a double fan room. A bit steep as the included breakfast is rather small.
They will provide free pickup from the bus stop.
Free Wifi which even works in the rooms.

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European Guesthouse reviewed by dourfankle (Total published reviews: 4) on 28th November, 2009
Rated 3 out of 5. after a stay here in 11/2009

Back Street Guest House

I have stayed here twice ,,I liked every thing about it ..I felt my $ was going to good cause ..The owners seem to change but not the good will ..

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European Guesthouse reviewed by rinjani (Total published reviews: 8) on 2nd October, 2009
Rated 4 out of 5. after a stay here in 8/2007

Excellent

We picked this place from reading a review. It helped us to have a guesthouse name before crossing the border so we could tell the Taxi driver to take us directly to European guesthouse. We enjoyed our four nights. Very friendly staff. The Swedish owner can give great advice about day trips in Siem Reap that are out of the ordinary (visiting an orphanage or silk farm). On our 2nd day, he invited us to a Cambodian wedding -- it was a great experience. The free breakfast is minimal. Our TV didn't have remote. Food and drinks from the restaurant are a little pricy, but good.

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European Guesthouse reviewed by cba4b (Total published reviews: 1) on 2nd July, 2009
Rated 4 out of 5. after a stay here in 6/2009

Great value, nice people

Yes, they picked me up as promised and on time. The staff was nice, the breakfast was minimal, but you can get some local food while you're cycling to Angkor Wat. Also, you can ask them to prepare your minimal breakfast early if you're going to catch the sunrise at the temples. The rooms are roomy and clean with nice wooden furniture which I thought was a novelty itself. The bed is very comfortable and huge (king size, I think). Can rent an old bicycle that they have for charity for US$2/day, but I'd strongly suggest you to rent a souped up one in the city if you're doing the 3-day cycling. That's the best way like ever, cos Angkor Wat is like totally awesome!

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European Guesthouse reviewed by gymbunny (Total published reviews: 3) on 31st May, 2009
Rated 4 out of 5. after a stay here in 1/2009

Absolute bargain

Booked up over the phone, and we were picked up from our minibus as promised. The owners actually have 2 guesthouses, we stayed in the overflow place next door. The room had air-con, a TV, hot shower, and was very clean. Add to this the free breakfast and free WiFi, at $12 this is a real bargain. The cambodian family that manage the guesthouse we stayed in were really lovely, extremely friendly and polite. We had the front entrance door opened for us as we came and went, there were plenty of nice little touches like this, which makes a real difference. Highly recommended.

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European Guesthouse reviewed by trevorwallis (Total published reviews: 7) on 5th May, 2009
Rated 2 out of 5. after a stay here in 1/2009

Clean, cheap and very cheerful

Stayed here for a week in April 2000. Much cleaner than many other guesthouses I stayed in during that trip. The owner was a very friendly English gentleman who was very helpful. Would definitely stay there again.

European Guesthouse reviewed by ashokmenon (Total published reviews: 3) on 11th January, 2008
Rated 4 out of 5. after a stay here in 4/2000

EXCELLENT

European Guesthouse reviewed by topcat (Total published reviews: 2) on 11th December, 2007
Rated 5 out of 5. after a stay here in 12/2007

new email address?

hi gang. i tried to contact the european guest house via the email form link on your website, but it got kicked back to me. can you check on that email address? i have no other means of contacting this guest house. i stayed there in 1999 and really liked it, and want to stay there again. thanks, exacto

European Guesthouse reviewed by exacto (Total published reviews: 33) on 30th November, 1999
Rated 4 out of 5. after a stay here in 11/1999